The Philadelphia Bar Association has launched a “Reporting Child Abuse” public education campaign, as part of a statewide effort cosponsored by the Pennsylvania Bar Association and county bar associations. The program is designed to educate the public about Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Law and the steps any Pennsylvanian should take to report suspected child abuse.

To download a copy of the public education campaign brochure, "Reporting Child Abuse," click here.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare:

During 2011, there were 24,378 cases of suspected child and student abuse reported in Pennsylvania. Of those, 3,408 (approximately 14 percent) were substantiated.

Last year in Pennsylvania, 34 children died from abuse and in 77 percent of these cases, the perpetrators were the parents. Another 41 children suffered near fatal abuse.

A majority (2,691 or approximately 66 percent) of the 4,071 injuries in substantiated reports of child abuse were sexual in nature, including sexual assault, rape and incest. Additional injuries ranged from cuts and bruises to skull fractures and scaldings.

Child abuse has no geographical boundaries. Reported and substantiated cases of child abuse occurred in all 67 Pennsylvania counties last year.